Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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331. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a reply will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47180/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 19 May 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 18 July 2022 and the case was referred on 26 July 2022 to an Appeals Officer who has determined that an oral hearing should be held in the matter. The Appeals Office will be in touch with the person concerned regarding the arrangements for the hearing in the coming weeks.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.